[Guy 13]

Hi all.
Yes, the first Mc Donald is now open and serving.
It all happened because a Vietnamese oversea in USA has decided that Vietnam was ready to feed their face with fast food.
Of course his task was simplified because he’s the son in law of a hi ranked minister of I don’t know what minister
and they help him find a nice piece of land and who knows,
maybe they even back him up with some money,
anyway, who cares?
Well, it’s about time the big golden arches set foot in this fast growing country, because KFC, has being doing business here for quite some time, the same for Pizza Hut, Dunkins Donut and more recently, Burger King, Subway, Domino Pizza and Popeye.
Now, the way they set up the entrance to the Mc Donald, for the first month, look as if they expected 50 millions of little Vietnamese to rush to the fast food place, but all that did not happen, very few Vietnamese showed up on opening day, well, enough to fill the restaurant, but that was the first day, when the 5 USD a day salary Vietnamese workers found out that a Big Mac hamburger cost 85,000 Vietnamese money (4 USD), then the restaurant had to rely on a different class of Vietnamese to stay in business.
Every day and six times a week, I drive right in front of the Mc Donald and I can tell you that it’s almost deserted, see the pictures taken no later than this morning after almost a month in business.
Now, Popeye restaurant which is almost in from of Mc Donald and that as been open for a few months, look like they are now out of business.
Is it because the Vietnamese are not ready for fast food,
I think not.
KFC, Pizza Hut and the same are expanding.
I will follow that saga and keep you posted, if you are interested in such things on the other side of the planet.
Thanks for reading.

Guy 13
By the way, my wife says that we won’t go to Mc Donald,
because if it’s too expensive for the Vietnamese, it’s too expensive for both of us.
When my wife talks, I listen…
 

[bladesmith]

That cracks me up. When I was in the Philippines,  back in 1985. There was a McDonald's.  When I used the drive-thru, there was an Ox standing in the parking lot, by itself, ring in his nose and a collar and leash. Standing there, like, a well mannered puppy.

I'll never forget it.

(Nice post, Guy..!)

[Guy 13]

That cracks me up. When I was in the Philippines,  back in 1985. There was a McDonald's.  When I used the drive-thru, there was an Ox standing in the parking lot, by itself, ring in his nose and a collar and leash. Standing there, like, a well mannered puppy.

I'll never forget it.

(Nice post, Guy..!)

Hi bladesmith.
Maybe the Ox was waiting his turn to finish in a Big mac ! 

Guy 13

[Bob in St. Louis]

Sorry to hear our culinary cancer has spread to your country Guy. 

[FireGuy]

I was able to visit the arches in Japan in the late 70's.   Taste was similar as I recall but not exact.  I tended to stay with the local cuisine however...that dining experience maybe once in a lifetime.  While in Thailand a few years back we drove past one with Ronald as pictured below.  Did not stop, just too busy with our itinerary.  My older son got married there.   Thailand is awesome to the ultimate degree.   An amazing place and culture.  Highly recommended.

Also, I find it extremely remarkable that McDonalds Corp (it appears for now) fell flat on their market research.  What is up with that? 

[Guy 13]

Sorry to hear our culinary cancer has spread to your country Guy. 

Hi Bob.
Your culinary cancer did spread to my country, my Canada.
Did you forgot that I am a Genuine (French) Canadian,
even if I've been stuck in Vietnam for the past 19 years.
Therefore Vietnam is NOT my country and it will never be.
You get a Canadian out of Canada,
but you never get Canada out of a Canadian.
I am sure, the same goes for the Americans.

 
Guy 13

[Bob in St. Louis]

In that case I'm sorry it spread to both of your countries. 

[Guy 13]

I was able to visit the arches in Japan in the late 70's.   Taste was similar as I recall but not exact.  I tended to stay with the local cuisine however...that dining experience maybe once in a lifetime.  While in Thailand a few years back we drove past one with Ronald as pictured below.  Did not stop, just too busy with our itinerary.  My older son got married there.   Thailand is awesome to the ultimate degree.   An amazing place and culture.  Highly recommended.

Also, I find it extremely remarkable that McDonalds Corp (it appears for now) fell flat on their market research.  What is up with that? 

Hi FireGuy.
I've been about a dozen times to Thailand,
but never tried McDonald,
was too busy eating spicy Thai food.
However, I tried several times McDonald in Hong Kong
and I never saw McDonald so dirty.
One of them, near my hotel had the toilet cabinet door completely teared off
and water all over the place, no toilet paper and no hand towel.
O.K. that was one HK McDo the other I've tired were not that bad.
I suspect that the Vietnamese McDonald might one day be like that.
Maybe, maybe not ?
I hope time will prove me wrong,
but I've seen so many Vietnamese restaurants
with rats crossing the dining room.
O.K. not all the restaurant are like that.
I hope I did not scare the AC members,
because I still want to get
in the future more visit from AC members.

Guy 13

[Guy 13]

In that case I'm sorry it spread to both of your countries. 

Hi (Again) Bob.
Don't be sorry, just don't do it again.
In my wife's country, maybe they will find a cure to the disease.
I wonder who that will be ? ? ?

Guy 13

[Bob in St. Louis]

I can't imagine the cure for McDonalds to rid the world of its disease, but I wish it would come soon.

[fridays]

Good to hear Mcdonalds isn't making it there...

[FullRangeMan]

There is increasingly less safe places in this world.

[Guy 13]

There is increasingly less safe places in this world.

Hi FULLRANGEMAN.
What do you mean by that?
I am not too smart, therefore, sorry, I don't understand.

Guy 13

[wushuliu]

Hi FULLRANGEMAN.
What do you mean by that?
I am not too smart, therefore, sorry, I don't understand.

Guy 13

Safe places to eat, I think is what he means.

[Guy 13]

Safe places to eat, I think is what he means.

Hi wushuliu.
...and eating at Mc Do is supposed to be safe ?
Well, maybe ?

Guy 13

[FullRangeMan]

Safe places to eat, I think is what he means.

Thanks 

[Guy 13]

Hi all.
After approximately one month in business, I see that MacC is not doing too  good.
I can confirm that, because MacC is right on my way to work.
I will give them 6 to 12 more month before they... Well, re-named their franchise.
By the way, the Popeye next door, is still closed, no immediate sign that it will re-open.
Pizza Hut might be interested in renting the ground floor of our house.
I don't think this will become reality, but any rental money would be welcome.
Pizza Hut don't have any franchise in our area, which is a suburb 15 Kilometers north of Ho Chi Minh City.
In addition, our free available space might be too small for them and not exactly on a main street.
Minds you, the nearby main street rent would be 1,000 USD/month which is double of what we are asking.
Just wanted to let you know what is going on, on planet Vietnam.

Guy 13

Everyday, I don't see more than 10 customer in the restaurant.